KL Rahul, the Indian cricketer, has been on a remarkable upswing since the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. After a determined show in Australia, he delivered outstanding performances in both the Champions Trophy 2025 and the Indian Premier League, marking one of the finest phases of his career.
With big names like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma missing from the Test series against England, Rahul took the opportunity to shine, scoring a century in the second innings of the first Test. Former India batting coach Abhishek Nayar shared that helping Rahul regain his form was a key focus during his time with the team.
Nayar recalled a conversation with Rohit Sharma when he first took on his coaching role, where Rohit emphasized the need to work with Rahul. The goal was to adopt a more aggressive approach to the game and unlock Rahul’s full potential, especially with upcoming tournaments like the Champions Trophy and World Cup on the horizon.
### KL Rahul’s Revival in 2024
The KL Rahul we see today is quite different from the one in 2023, who faced criticism for his performance in the ODI World Cup final. In that crucial match, he struggled under pressure against the Australian team, which led to him being excluded from the T20 World Cup team in 2024 and his IPL franchise, Lucknow Super Giants, parting ways with him.
According to Nayar, it was essential to make significant changes to Rahul’s technique and mindset. They began their work during India’s challenging Test series against New Zealand. Nayar stressed the importance of the Australian series, explaining that it could have been a turning point for Rahul’s career.
Nayar and Rahul planned extensively—discussing his approach, mindset, and how to enhance his game. Sessions focused on both technique and mental resilience. The improvement in his batting became evident in the Champions Trophy, where he concluded matches by hitting sixes, a sight not often seen before.
Through continuous dialogue, Nayar helped Rahul trust new tactics, from his stance at the crease to his practice methods. Despite being let go from the Indian team, Nayar continues to work with Rahul personally, aiming to keep up his positive momentum for impactful performances in England.
As Rahul seeks to maintain this form, fans are eager to see how he will contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming games.
